Machine for folding fabric articles



M. KELLEY. Y MACHINE FOR FOLDING FABRIC'ARTICLES.

APPLICATLON FILED NOV-21,1919. 1,376,942.

. Y O E .mm m A muus A mm. WN

M. KELLEY. MACHINE FOR FOLDING FABRIC ARTICL ES APPLICATION FILED NQ .2I 1.919.

Patented May 3, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I Wm W .IIII:.IIIEHIII:5:--. i I i I I I I i i 1! III FEW/v, .7 NM. 5h fin? 0 A b ny x INVENTOR MARGARET KELLEY,

ATTORNEY APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21; 1919.

7 8 7. m M3 w 93 n Qmm Vi a a M as m4 0. P

INVENTORV Ken. L. EY

Manama? ATTORNEY oNrran s r rara'r OFFICE.

MARGARET KELLEY, or Los ANGELES, cALrEonnIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 AUTOMATIC FLATW'ORK EoLnEa COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ARI- ZONA.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING FABRIC ARTICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 3 1921 Application filed November 21, 1919. Serial No. 339,653.

7 '0 all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, MARGARET KELLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles' and tate of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Folding Fabric Articles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mechanism which is especially adapted to be employed ;as an attachment to mangles in laundry operations for the purpose of folding sheets, table cloths, counterpanes, and similar articles on discharge of same from the mangle.

It is the object of this invention to provide a machine of the above character, embodying a means whereby sheet material may be laid in successive folds, and embodying an effective feeding mechanism capable of operating on fabrics of various characters without danger of'mutilation or damage to the material.

Another object is to provide a folding machine whereby the sheet fabric be foldedin successive layers and afterward refolded lengthwise of such layers.

Another object'is to provide a driving mechanism for a folding machine of'the above type, which is adapted to be driven from the driving mechanism of a mangle and to be timed relative to the latter so as to properly fold the articles delivered successively from the mangle.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in .whi hz Figure 1 is a'view of the folding machine as seen in front elevationwith portions of the frame thereof removed;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section and elevation seen on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail in end elevation as seen in the direction indicated by the arrow 3 in Fig. 1, frame portions being removed; Fig. 4: is a view in end elevation as seen in the direction indicated by the arrow 4 in Fig. 1 with parts of the frame broken away; I f Fig. 5' isan enlarged detail horizontal section as seen on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view in section and elevation as seen onthe line 6-6 of bigJl; :Fig. 7 is a view inelevation as seen in the direction indicated by the arrow 7 in Fig. 1 showing the driving parts of the final folding mechanism with the feed belt pori tions removed.

The invention primarily resides in providing a pair of endless feed belts arranged substantially parallel to each other with the adjacent belt portions disposed close together and driven in corresponding directions and between which the sheet fabric to be folded may be fed; these belts being mounted for oscillatory movement whereby the sheet fabric, on being discharged from between the belts, will be: laid in'successive folds. i V

A pair of such folding devices are employed, one for initial folding of the article on its discharge from the mangle and particularly indicated ato in, Fig. 3, and: the other employed for finally folding the previously folded article and indicated at b in Figs. 1 and 6. V V

In the initial folding device a, 8 and 9 indicate the endless feed belts which are other and mounted to travel in approximately a vertical direction. The belt 8 passes around horizontally extending rollers 10 and 11, rigidly mounted on shafts 12 and 13; the shaft 12 being supported in suitable bearings 14: carried on a stationary frame of any suitable construction. The shaft 13 is carried on the lower ends of dependent rocker arms 15 pivoted to swing on the shaft 12. 7

The belt 9 is mounted on rollers l6and 17 extending parallel with the rollers 10 and 11; the roller16 being mounted'on a shaft '18 carried on brackets 19 extending forinner sides of the outer portions of the belts,

as particularly shown in Fig. 3.

The rocker arms 15 are designed to be oscillated so that the lower portions of the belts 8 and 9 will be swung back and forth on an are. For this purpose a pair of cranks- 24 are provided and are pivoted relative to the shaft 12 adjacent to the outer sides of -arranged substantially parallel with each 7 '41 constituting a reverse gear.

rotary elements, here shown as comprising spur gears 28 mounted on stud shafts 29 and adapted to be rotated by pinions 30 mounted on a shaft 31.

' The shaft 31 is designed to be driven in synchronism with amangle and for which purpose is fitted with a sprocket wheel 32 engaged by a sprocket chain 33 adapted to be driven by any suitable rotary member on the mangle. r i

r The shaft 12 and the roller 10 are driven from the shaft 31 by a sprocket chain 34 passing around a sprocket wheel 35 on the shaft 31 and a sprocket wheel 36 on the shaft 12. The roller 11 and shaft 13 are driven from the shaft 12 by a sprocket chain 37 passing around a sprocket wheel 38 on the shaft 13 and a sprocket wheel 39 on the shaft 12. The sprocket chains 34 and 37 are here shown as arranged on the right hand end of the machine, as shown in Figs. 1and3. 'V V.

Mounted on the end of the shaft 13 at the left hand end of the machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is a pinion 40 which meshes with an idler pinion 41 on a stud shaft 42 car-.

ried by the rocker arm 15, the pinions 40 and A sprocket wheel 43 is mounted on the idler pinion 41.

around which passes a sprocket chain '44 leading around a sprocket wheel 45on the shaft 18, by which the latter is rotated in a direction opposite that of the shaft 12. Arranged adjacent the sprocket wheel 45 on the shaft 18 is a sprocket wheel 46 around which passes asprocket chain 47 leading around a sprocket wheel 48 on the shaft 20, by which the latter and the roller 17 are rotated from the shaft 18. V

The articles to be delivered from the mangle betweenthe belts 8 and 9 may be fed directly from the roller 49 of the mangle to vthe roller 10, but Ihave here shown an intermediate feeding belt 5'0 which passes around a roller 51 onthe shaft 31 and a roller 52 mounted on the shaft 53 carried by the bearing 14; the roller 51 being positioned beneath' the mangle roller 49 and the roller 52 disposed adjacent to the feed roller 10 and suflicien'tly there abovethat the sheet article passing from the mangle roller 49 onto the belt 50 will be discharged over the roller 52 onto thebelt 8' passing over the roller 10; The roller 51 is driven with the shaft 31an-rl the roller 52 is driven through a sprocket chain 54 passing around a sprocket wheel 56 on theshaft 53.

axially of a shaft 87 supported on a In the operation of the portion of th frame The :belt 83 passes around rollers vention previously described, the sheet is fed between the rollers 10 and 16 and belts 8 and 9, and carried downwardly between the latter and discharged between the rollers 11 and 17, as particularly shown in Fig. 3. The rocker arms 15 on being oscillated will act to deposit the sheet in successive folds;

a suitable support being provided for the sheet adjacent to the lower end of the rocker arms.

In the present embodiment of my'invention, I employ a horizontally disposed conveyer belt 57 On which the sheet articles are initially folded; the belt being maintained stationary during the folding operation and advanced to'convey'the folded article clear of the initial folding device, as will presently be described. The belt 57 is mounted. upon supporting rollers 58 suitably mountedand arranged and passes around an end roller 59, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, which roller is fitted with a sprocket wheel 60 around which passes a sprocket chain 61, which leads downwardly and: around a sprocket wheel 62 on a shaft 63 extending transversely beneath the conveyer belt 57 The shaft 63 isv fitted with a: bevel pinion 64 meshing with a corresponding pinion65 on a vertically disposed shaft 66 carrying a bevel pinion 67 at its upper end, which in turn meshes with a larger bevel gear 68- 'through which the belt 57 isintermittently driven. The gear '68 is mounted on a tubular shaft 69 ournaled in a bearing 7 O and loosely encircling a constantly driven shaft .71 on which a spur gear 72 is rigidly mounted. The spur gear 72 meshes with the'spur gea'r28 driven from the shaft 31 by the pinions 30, Spline'd on the shaft 71 is a sleeve 73 carrying a clutch member '74 adapted to se engaged with the end of the tubular shaft 69 and normally held out of engagement therewith by a spring 75 acting ona dethe spur gear 7 8 is a'cam or track SO-adapted to ride in and out of engagement with a roller 81 on the lower end of the arm 76; the cam being'adapted to rock the arm 76 in opposition to the spring 75 to movethe clutch member 74 into engagement with the tubular shaft 69, for the purpose of driving i the conveyer belt intermittently to deliver the folded article to the refolding device 5.

The refolding device?) embodies a pair of feed belts 82and 83 the belt 82 being carried upon rollers 84 and'85' mounted upon dependent'rocker arms 86 pivotally mounted suitable 88 and 89 carried on the rocker arms '86-; the roller 88 being carried on brackets 90 extending upwardly from the rocker-arms, and the roller 89 being carried in slotted extensions 91 on the lower ends of the rocker arms. The belts 82 and83 are arranged to yieldably contact each other at the point where they pass around the lower rollers 85 and'89,and for this purpose the roller 89 is mounted to have movement toward or away from the roller 85 and is normally held to position the belts 82 and 83 in contact with each other by' means of springs 92, as particularly shown in Fig. 5.

Mounted on the shaft 87 is a sprocket wheel 93 engaged by a sprocket chain 94 passing around a sprocket wheel 95 on the shaft 59 from which the shaft 87 is rotated. A second sprocket wheel 96 is mounted on the shaft 87 engaged by a sprocket chain 97 passing around a sprocket wheel 98 on a shaft 99 carrying the roller 85,"by which the latter and the belt 82 are driven. Mounted on the end of the shaft 99 "opposite to the sprocket wheel 98, is a pinion 100 which meshes with an idler: pinion 101 carried on a stud on the adjacent rocker arm and connected to a sprocket wheel 102 engaged by a sprocket chain 103 passing around a sprocket wheel 104: on a shaft 105 carrying the roller 88 and by which the latter is rotated. A second sprocket 'wheel 106 on the shaft 105'is engaged by a sprocket chain 107 passing around a sprocket wheel 108 on a shaft 109 onwhich theroller 89 is mounted and by'which the latter is rotated.

V The chain and sprocket construction just doscribed comprises aldrivlng means whereby the belts 82 and 83 are driven with their adjacent portions moving in opposite directions. 7 V

Mounted on the shaft 87 is a roller 110 around which passes a conveyer belt 111 which may be a continuation of the belt 57 but is here shown as comprising a separate belt passing around a roller 112 positioned end to a wrist pin'on the sprocket wheel 62.

In the operation of the invention, the article .to be folded on being discharged from the mangle is delivered between the belts 8 and 9 and folded uponthe conveyer belt 57, whilethe latter is stationary, by the oscillation of the rocker arm structure constituting the initial folding device a, the belt driving mechanism being so timed relative to'the delivery of the article from the man- 'gle and the initial folding mechanismthat tending conveyer belt 111to, deliver it onto the second folding mechanism 2). The article is then fed downwardly'between the belts portionthereof between the rollers 85 and 89 onto atable 11 1 orother support, the oscillationofthe second folding mechanism folds the previously folded article transversely, as indicated in Fig. 1, thereby completing the folding operations; 1 While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of;my' invention, it is obvious that various changes may'bemade in the details of construction and assemblage and arrangement'of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention setiforth in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a machine r'o r folding Shet articles,

a dependent: oscillatory" structure, 'means .whereby a sheet'article-may. be advanced downwardly on said structure and delivered from-the lowerv portion thereof, a conveyer belt for receivingthe delivered sheet folded longitudinally, and a second oscillatory structure arranged to receive the longitudinally foldedsheet from saidconveyer belt and folding said sheet'transversely.

2. .In a machine, for folding sheet articles,

a conveyer. belt, an oscillatory structure for receiving a sheet and delivering it folded longitudinally onto said-belt conveyer, and

a second oscillatory structure arranged at right angles to said'first oscillatory struc ture to receive the longitudinally folded sheetxand deliver said sheet folded transversely.

82 and 83 and discharged from the lowerend;

3. In a machine for folding'sheetarticles,

an" oscillatory frame, a pair of upper rollers journaled on said frame, a pair of lower 1 rollers :j ournaled on said frame, an endless belt traveling over each upper "roller andf a. complementary lower roller, said lower rollers being spaced close together and said upper rollers being spaced apart and'the belts 'inclinedrelative to each otherto receive the sheet articles, and means for oscillating a said frame. 1

4. Ina machine forfolding sheet articles,

a" dependent oscillatory structure,- means a whereby a sheet jarticle maybe advanced downwardly on said structure and delivered from the lower portion thereof, a conveyer belt for receiving the folded article, a secnd oscillatory structure arranged toreceive the folded article from the said conveyer anda second oscillatory folding device for refolding the articles delivered to said con veyer'belt. r

. a 6. Ina machine for folding sheetiarticles, L a dependent oscillatorystructure, apair of feed" belts on said structure whereby a sheet article may be advanced downwardly on said structure and delivered: from the lower portion thereof, means for driving saidbelts during movement of the oscillatory structure, a conveyer belt arrangedto receive the 'art-icle delivered from said oscillatory; structure, and-means for advancing said belt intermittently, 1 3 v v 7. In a'machine for'folding sheet articles,

an oscillatory frame, a pair of'upperrollers journaledfon said frame, a pair of lower 7 rollers journaled onFsaidframe, an endless belt traveling over each upper roller and a complementary lower roller, saidflower roll- V ersbeing'spaced closetogetherz-and said upper rollers being spacedapart toreceive the sheet articles,'one of said lower rollers being yieldingly mounted with relationto' the other lowerroller, and means for oscillating said frame. V a 8. In a machine for foldingv sheet'articles,

an oscillatory frame, a pair of upper rollers journaled on said frame, a pair of-rlower rollers journaled' on said frame, an endless belt traveling over each upper-roller and a complementary lower roller, said lower rollers being spaced close together and said upper rollers being spaced apart andv the belts inclined relative to each other' to receivethe sheet articles, means for feeding the sheetarticles between said upper'rollers,

' and means for oscillating said frame.

' end" ofthe other'element. '5

' ing elementseach of which is adapted to rec- 9. A machine for folding sheet articles comprising a pair of oscillating sheet feed- "ing elements each of which is adapted to re- :ceivea sheet article at its upper end and'to feed the article from its lower end andlay it in continuous folds, said elements being arranged at rightangles'to each. other, and means forconveying the folded article-from the lower end of one element to thelipper 10. A machine for folding sheetaarticles comprising a pair of'oscillating sheet feedceive a sheet a ic at i s pper; end, and

to feed the article from its lower end and lay; it in continuous folds, ,said elements, being arranged at right angles to each other, a horizontal belt arranged beneath the discharge end of one element to receive the folded article, means for intermittentl driving said belt to advance the folded article, and means for delivering the foldedarticle from said belt-to the upper end of the other of said folding element 11 In a machine for folding sheet articles, a horizontally extending endless belt, means for intermittently driving said belt,

in continuouscfolds'while the belt isstationary, and a second material. folding means arranged at the endof thebeltto receive the folded material from'the belt.

' 12. In a machine for folding sheet articles, a horizontally extending endless belt, means for intermittently driving said belt,

-means for laying asheet article on said, belt in continuous folds while, thepbelt is stationary, and means for folding the article in continuous folds arranged at the ,endpof said belt. I

1-3. Ina sheet article folding machine, a shaft, av roller on said shaft, a pair of de-' pendent hangers; pivoted on said shaft, a

pair of parallel rollers carried on the, lower endsof said hangers,;an endless belt passing around the first named roller-and one of'the pair. of rollers, aw rollercarried on theupper portions j of said hangers, extending parallel to the first named roller and spaced there from, an endless belt passing around said,

'means for laying a sheetgarticle on said belt 7 last named roller andthe'other of the pair of rollers, and meansfor oscillating said hangers. 1

14. In a sheet pair of oscillating dependent hangers pivoted axially of said shaft, a pair. of parallel rollers carried on the lower ends of said passing around said driven roller and around one of the pair of rollers, an upper roller carried on said hangers paralleling the driven roller, and a belt passing around foldingjmachine, a shaft,a

hangers, a driven rolleron said shaft, a belt v said upper roller and around the other of the pair of rollers, the inner leaf of said last. named belt being inclined relative to p the adjacent leaf of the'other belt.

'15. In a sheet folding machine, a pair of endless belts arranged to have portions in-' clined relative to and facing each other between which a she'etto be folded may be passed, rollers supporting said belts, and

"means foroscillating saidjbelts collectively.

' MARGARET'VKEIY4LEY, I 

